Showing posts with label Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Show all posts
from the Virupaksha Cave to Tiruvannamalai town
the path downwards from the Virupaksha Cave towards Tiruvannamalai town. You can see the gopurams of the temple, as you walk down. One is excited to approach the town and yet, one is sad, that one is going away from the Virupaksha town.
the forested path starts going downwards sharply, and it is difficult to walk barefoot. One almost wishes that one could have brought some slippers, hidden in a bag. And then, when you know that you are walking down, more rapidly, you wonder, if you would do it again...
the most remarkable aspect of the beautiful path is that it is kept clean, excellently clean
Our best wishes go to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, and one hopes that the forested path gains more in strength, very soon.
There seems to be better forest canopy as one approaches the Tiruvannamalai town. The forest path is more serene, and the trees are taller.
There are women folk here, depending on the biomass of the forest. The Tamil Nadu forest department could come up with some innovative biomass based sustainable livelihood projects for the women who depend on the natural resources here.
the forests at Skandasramam
A beautifully splendid location in the forests at Skandasramam - some devotees are seen here at early dawn or later, in the evening. Just sitting here, and looking within.
The forests at Skandasramam are catching up with the good efforts of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. There has to be more efforts to strengthen the forests here.
The upper slopes towards the sacred Arunachala, above Skandasramam
The vendors on the path from Skandasramam to Virupaksha Cave
There are plenty of serene spots around Skandasramam, protected and shaded by the forests of Arunachala.
giri pradakshina - walking around the sacred hill
Walking around the sacred hill of Arunachala is recognised as 'girivalam' or 'giripradakshna'. Once you place the thought in your mind, you are gradually taken into the aspect of faith, and one usually finds that the devoted one does not escape.
The outer pradakshina route around the sacred hill of Arunachala
Image sourced from - http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/arunachala-hill/walking-around-the-hill/
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The inner pradakshina route around the foothills of the sacred hill of Arunachala
[the inner path is closed by orders of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department]
Image sourced from - https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/guide-to-this-blog/arunachala-and-the-inner-path/arunachala-inner-path-pachaiamman-koil/
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The outer and inner pradakshina routes around the sacred hill of Arunachala
[the inner path is closed by orders of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department]
Image sourced from - https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/guide-to-this-blog/arunachala-and-the-inner-path/arunachala-inner-path-updated-27-feb-2010/
Copyright vests in the original owner
At the beginning -- starting to walk to Skandasramam and Virupaksha Cave from Sri Ramanasramam
The photographs are placed in order as one walks up from Sri Ramanasramam to Virupaksha Cave and Skandasramam
As you begin the climb, you are requested to keep Arunachala 'clean and green'
It is best and correct to avoid taking any plastic bags or material with you. If you are carrying a plastic water bottle, bring it back with you, unless someone else needs it more.
There is a board curiously credited to the Archaeological Survey of India directing all devotees and the faithful towards the Skandasramam and Virupaksha Cave. All devotees walk barefoot while on the sacred hill of Arunachala.
The local Annamalai Restoration Society has been making strong efforts in greening the sacred hill in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu forest department.
There are a number of the devoted who seek the sanctity and solitude of the sacred hill of Arunachala. They sit here, quietly, in contemplation, some reading, some writing and some chanting. But most are sitting here, quietly, just happy to be seated in peace.
The Annamalai Restoration Society display boards in Tamil
The path to Skandasramam and Virupaksha Cave begins to climb from here. If you are walking up for the first time, barefoot, you are forgiven if you are thinking about getting back to Sri Ramanasramam and getting your trekking shoes. I was also guilty of the same thoughts. One gets courage by seeing others walk up barefoot. It's difficult at first, but begins to take you by your jugular and takes you up... if you give yourselves up to the sacred hill of Arunachala.
This is where the path begins to climb steeply. If you overcame your initial fears, you would give up here. I did. I stood here, quietly, thinking if I was foolish, walking up barefoot. What if the snakes came out? What if scorpions were just waiting for me? What if there were millions of thorns on the path? I waited it out for more than five minutes, while my friend went on ahead. After a while, I just gave up... I gave up myself to Arunachala. The moment I did that, I began to walk.
Just as you begin to get the pull and push to continue to walk barefoot to Skandasramam and the Virupaksha Cave, I came up to Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, waiting for me. I stood here, watching him, and knew that he was sitting here, watching me. It was the most blissful moment.
After the meeting with Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, the path dissolves right ahead of you. The path does not look difficult, and becomes a smooth elevator, taking the barefoot devotee without any difficulty or fear... right through to Virupaksha Cave and Skandasramam
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